Ten Wise Statements Abraham Lincoln Did Not Say
On his 200th birthday, I though it would be cool to post a list of ten truism’s attributed to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Licoln (1809-1865).
- You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
- You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
- You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
- You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
- You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
- You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
They sound very wise and very Presidential and I’ll bet Abe would have sang the praises of the list, but he didn’t actually say them.
In fact, they were written in 1916 by the Rev. William J. H. Boetcker, a Presbyterian clergyman and pamphlet writer.
In 1942, a group called the Committee for Constitutional Government gave out a great many leaflets entitled “Lincoln on Limitations” that contained on one side an actual Lincoln quote and on the other side the 10 statements by Rev. Boetcker.
Rev. Boetcker was credited with his statements on the leaflet, but because people don’t actually pay attention, throw in the title of the leaflet and people began think that Lincoln had said the ten listed statements.
They have been repeated in many printed sources, and are still regarded by many as authentic Lincoln quotes., but they aren’t.
Now you know.
3 years ago • 0 notes